Tag Archive | agent

Direct sales, in particular it’s sub-type, network marketing, is often viewed negatively. A bad experience with an overzealous or outright dishonest rep, as well as myths and misunderstandings about direct sales keep many people away from this home business option.

However, direct sales is a viable way to start a home based business if you go in with the right attitude, knowledge, and willingness to work.

Here are tips for achieving success in direct sales and MLM.

1) Understand that it’s a business like any other business.

Direct sales marketers have the tendency to water down the plan so that it’s easy to understand, but that can also give the impression that it’s easy to do. “Help five people get eight people, and you’ll get a free car.” What they don’t tell you is that you’ll need to talk to at least 50 people to get the five people, and help them talk to at least 80 people each to get their eight.

Success in direct sales comes from the same things that make any other business a success; know your market, find them, deliver a message that appeals to them, and service them well.

2) Use your company’s products and services.

The best direct sales rep use and love their products. They talk about them with enthusiasm, which is what helps sell them. Using your products and services also gives you personal experiences and information so you can discuss them honestly and accurately with potential customers.

Some companies forbid you to use their name in your marketing. Others don’t allow you to set up your own consultant website. The point is, buying into a business means there may be rules and restrictions you need to abide by.

Further, to maximize your income, you need to know the best way to make money. Which products are the most popular and earn you the most income? How can you earn bonuses? What are the overrides by helping others start a business?

4) Determine the best market for your products, services, and business plan.

Most direct sales companies start new reps by having them make a list of 100 people. While you might find your new customers and business partners in this list, this method isn’t the most efficient way to get started. In all other business models, you want to find the best buyers of your products and focus on them. Identifying your target market means you don’t waste time trying to pitch people who don’t want what you’re selling.

Further, in direct sales, there is a tendency to focus on targeting people who want to make money, and that’s not bad, but you’re better off focusing on people who want to make money AND would like your products and services. People aren’t going to be successful selling something they can’t get behind.

Further, retail sales is a part of how money is made, but you can’t sell products to people who don’t want or need them. So figure out who wants and needs what you’re selling.

5) Figure out where you can find your target market.

General advertising and promotion doesn’t work as well as sending your message directly to your market. What websites do they surf, what magazines do they read, what organizations do they belong to, etc.? That’s where you want to focus your marketing efforts.

6) Determine how your market can benefit from your products, services, and business plan.

Will your customers gain energy, become smarter, cook better, feel confident? Reframe all the great things about your product and business into benefits. If your products are non-toxic, what does that mean? Fewer asthma spells? Less allergies? Poor marketing strategies are one of the top reasons home businesses fail, so develop a marketing plan that highlights your company’s benefits to your target market.

7) Differentiate yourself from the thousands of other people who are working with the same company.

Why should people buy from you rather than that other rep who lives next door? Some ways to set yourself apart are to offer a higher level of service, give discounts or freebies, set up a loyalty program, etc. The key is to find a way to stand out from all the others selling the same thing you are.

8) Develop your own website and marketing tools, if allowed by your company.

This is another way you can differentiate yourself and customize what you offer. For example, on your own website you can offer an email newsletter with tips and helpful hints. Print business cards with an offer, such as a free consultation or a discount.

9) Network to find your market.

As already mentioned, most direct sales companies recommend making a list of 100 people, which can be a good place to start, except if none of those 100 people need your product or business. Instead, use your network to help you find people in your target market.

10) Make appointments.

Direct sales work because it’s a people to people business. Whether you’re showing a product or introducing the business plan, you have to do it in front of people. The direct sales reps who make the most presentations are usually the ones who win.

11) Develop a system for staying in touch with prospects, clients, and new business builders.

The fortune is in the follow-up! Too often, direct sales consultants give up after the first ‘no.’ But that ‘no’ may actually mean ‘it’s not a good time.’ Newsletters are a great way to keep your name in front of people, so if the time becomes right, they can contact you. Good customer service and continued contact goes a long way to getting repeat and referral business (for all types of businesses, not just direct sales). Well you don’t want to annoy people, you do want to create a system for staying in touch until they tell to stop.

12) Make a commitment to not quit.

Despite what the nay-sayers will tell you, the failure rate in network marketing and direct sales isn’t any more than any other home business opportunity. Just as many people give up selling on eBay, freelancing their skills, blogging and more. What differentiates success from failure in any home business is commitment to never quit. That means learning to overcome rejection, avoiding mistakes, and staying the course towards success.

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Coastal Vacations is an association of business owners that market travel packages at wholesale prices and sell them for retail or a business opportunity. There are three different Coastal Vacations travel packages ranging anywhere from $1295 to $11,000. Of course, the higher the price, the more the travel benefits.

The Coastal Vacations packages generally promise an up to 75% on its vacations and cruises compared to regular retail prices if bought directly from a travel agency or the hotel or cruise line.

Coastal Vacations includes in its travel packages over 22 membership cards with discounts in hotels, cruises, golfing, RVing, camping, dining, condo stays, gas, groceries, car rental, and more. Pretty much all things travel and entertainment are covered in the Coastal Vacations package.

Hotels like the Wyndham and cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean as well as Celebrity Cruises have partnered with vendors included in the Coastal Vacations packages to offer the Coastal Vacations travel members free hotel stays and cruises where only taxes and fees are required by the traveler.

The Coastal Vacations travel packages includes many vacations, and all of them are transferable, so they can be given as gifts, at fundraisers, as business incentives, and to anyone you want, but they cannot be sold individually.

The Coastal Vacations members are never required to attend a timeshare presentation or any other travel plan out there. Coastal Vacations has managed to put together a pretty thorough quality package for a very affordable price.

The Coastal Vacation, despite what is being said out there, in my opinion are not pricey at all. This is because the average American family of 4 spends at least $2800 every single year on vacation. That means that in a 10-year period, the average American family spends $28000 on vacation, and the highest priced Coastal Vacations package costs only $11,000 and includes a lifetime of unlimited all-inclusive hotel stays and cruises, and that means it is for life.

So, in my general opinion, Coastal Vacations offers both the travel and the smart business entrepreneur great opportunities to both make money and really travel for pennies on the dollar.

Now that’s a very nice, basic Overview!

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